Death & the Law – the Estate and Probate Process
There is an old expression - “you can’t take it with you when you die”. Unfortunately, the person who first penned those words gave no answers as to what becomes of your property, financial accounts, investments, debts and responsibilities upon your passing. Under Pennsylvania Law, when an individual dies owning assets, a family member, or an appointed representative, will typically need to open an estate to settle the deceased person’s affairs. This process is often referred to as Probate and Estate Administration. What is the Estate and Probate Process? The “estate” of a deceased person